What is dotmobi?
dotmobi (.mobi) is a dynamic, new Top-Level Domain (TLD) that is intended for sites designed to be used on cell phones and other mobile hand-held devices.
With the combination of a dedicated mobile namespace (“.mobi”) and web development style guides known as Switch On! Guides, the success of dotmobi sites on mobile devices is virtually guaranteed!

What is mTLD?
In July 2005, ICANN approved the mTLD Top-Level Domain Ltd (mTLD) as the official registry operator for the new .mobi domain name. dotmobi is now getting ready for launch in May, 2006.
mTLD is a joint venture funded by a consortium of companies including the following mobile communications industry leaders: Hutchison, 3, GSM Association, Ericsson, Google, Microsoft, Nokia, Samsung Electronics, Syniverse Technologies, TIM, Telefonica Moviles Espana, T-Mobile, and Vodafone.

What is the dotmobi ‘sponsored community’?
The .mobi sponsored community consists of the following stakeholders:
• Individual and business consumers of mobile devices, services and applications
• Mobile content and service providers
• Mobile operators
• Mobile device manufacturers and vendors
• IT technology and software vendors who serve the mobile community
For each of the above stakeholders, designation of the .mobi domain will foster the widespread adoption of mobile and wireless devices to access the Internet and ultimately the convergence of Internet and mobile telecommunications.

Why Now is the Right Time for dotmobi
At the present time, there are approximately one billion Internet users and almost two billion cellular users on the planet. Even though these numbers represent huge markets, revenues from the “mobile Internet” are still far from reaching their potential. These markets have not been tapped in large part because most web sites on the Internet do not work at all well with mobile devices.
To enhance useability, all dotmobi sites will be required to have a home page that conforms to the Switch On! Guides (also called the .mobi styleguides) which are optimized for access through mobile devices. These guides will ensure dotmobi sites are easy to use.

What are Advantages to Having a dotmobi Domain Name?
In today’s world, almost everyone who can afford a cell phone has one – and keeps it with them virtually all the time. Whether teenager or adult, or in school, the work force or retired, female or male, the world’s cellular phone users usually have their phones with them wherever they go. It is logical that they expect to be able to access the Internet from their mobile devices.
The goal of dotmobi sites is to make sure that sites provide a consistent, reliable and convenient experience for cellular phone users.

Availability and Rollout Plan
The timeline for rolling out dotmobi and the different registration periods are shown below:
Sunrise Registration Period
Limited Industry Sunrise - May 22nd to May 29th
Trademark Sunrise - June 12th to August 21st

General Registration Period
Landrush - August 28th to September 10th
Ongoing - From September 14th

Rollout Plan Overview
Dotmobi launches in late May 2006 with a Sunrise Registration Period open to Trademark holders. This will be followed in late August with the General Registration Period, open to the public, which continues indefinitely.

Sunrise Registration Period
The Sunrise Registration Period is an opportunity for Trademark holders to register their Trademarks as dotmobi names. This period is further divided into two time segments:

Limited Industry Sunrise
On Monday May 22nd the mobile industry will have an opportunity to register their Trademark names as dotmobi domain names. The mobile industry will be defined by mTLD and will consist of companies that are members of mobile industry organisations such as GSMA, CTIA and MMA. This Limited Industry Sunrise will continue until Monday May 29th.

Trademark Sunrise
Monday June 12th is the start of the Trademark Sunrise when all other trademark holders can register their trademark as dotmobi domain names. Trademark Sunrise will continue until Monday August 21st, a period of 70 days.

Sunrise Registration Period Requirements & Restrictions
Trademark owners will have to provide the following information when registering their names during the Sunrise Registration Period:

• Trademark name (must be three or more ASCII characters)
• Trademark identification number
• Date of Trademark application (this date must be before July 11th 2005)
• Date of granting of Trademark
• Country of Trademark registration
• mTLD's systems and processes have been designed to make the application as easy as possible however it will not be possible to process incomplete registrations. It is up to each applicant to ensure that the information provided is both complete and accurate.
• mTLD will randomly verify a Trademark owner's documents during this period.
• Domain names can be composed of ASCII characters identical to the textual or word elements of the mark only. Full details are available in the Sunrise FAQ.
• Sunrise registrations are only accepted for a minimum term of two years up to a maximum of ten.
• mTLD will process requests for Sunrise using a first-come, first-served basis.
  The Sunrise Registration Period begins on Monday June 12th, 2006 and closes on Monday 21st August 2006. Trademark holders interested in registering their marks are required to submit the necessary information to an ICANN and dotmobi accredited registrar.

Limited Sunrise Registration Period
The Limited Sunrise Registration Period is described in detail below.

Priority Registration for Trade Association Members
Members of mobile industry trade associations such as, GSMA, CTIA, MMA and MEF have an exclusive opportunity to register their trademarked names during an 8-day Limited Industry Sunrise Period from May 22nd to May 29th 2006.
This is not only a benefit extended by these organizations to their members, but also an advantage for the members themselves to secure their desired names and to build content and services around the unique and high value mobile domain, “.mobi”.

Who Can Qualify?
Your organization can qualify to participate if you meet the following criteria:

• have registered (or applied for) your Trademark, for which you want to register your domain name, before 11 July 2005, and
• are a fully paid member in good standing of one of the above industry associations.